DALLAS: Stacy Lewis made her first LPGA victory of 2014 a blowout yesterday, firing a seven-under par 64 for a six-shot triumph in the North Texas Shootout.
Lewis notched her ninth LPGA tour title but her first since the Women’s British Open last August.
Her 16-under par total of 268 gave her an emphatic victory over South Korean Meena Lee, who had shared the overnight lead with Lewis.
Lee carded a one-under par 70 for sole possession of second place on 274.
American Michelle Wie was third after a 67 for 275.
South Korea’s Choi Na-Yeon (69) and American Kim Kaufman (70) shared fourth on 276.
With the win, Lewis is projected to move up from her current number three in the world rankings to second in the world -- supplanting New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko.
The American had been knocking on the door, with six runner-up finishes in her previous 16 tournaments. “It’s awesome,” said Lewis, a Texas native who celebrated with friends and family. “It’s relief more than anything. I’ve been so close the last few months, you know, maybe if I win one of those, I don’t get it done here. So I think it was all meant to be. Just to be here with my family.”
Lewis’s round included a 25-foot eagle putt at the par-five seventh hole, which she said “really kind of got things going in the right direction”.
“Then I just never let up,” Lewis said.
Lewis made her only bogey of the day on the par-three 11th but responded with a birdie at 12.
“Making par on 15 was huge,” said Lewis, who stuck her third shot there three feet from the pin. “After hitting what I thought was a good tee shot and then, you know, going in the water, but still making par.
The impressive margin of victory is the largest on the LPGA Tour since South Korean Shin Jiyai’s 9-stroke victory in 2012 Women’s British Open. AFP
